IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/lauspo/v119y2022ics026483772200196x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Land access mechanisms of Soweto farmers: Moving beyond legal land tenure for urban agriculture

Author

Listed:
  • Suchá, Lenka
  • Dušková, Lenka

Abstract

Legal land tenure is often understood as an essential asset underpinning urban agriculture. However, the global land rights discussion recently moved away from a strict emphasis on legality towards a wider acknowledgement of the multidimensionality of land rights and land tenure. Based on the semi-structured interviews with farmers of Soweto at gardens in institutions and open-space gardens, and key informants we explore the mechanisms by which farmers gain, control, and maintain access to land with the aim to extend the evidence on the importance of social relations and their role in land tenure of small-scale urban farmers. Results of an in-depth qualitative analysis of structural and relational mechanisms of access to land show that farmers’ identity and ability to create and navigate through the complex web of social relations represents a vital formative force for land tenure. Building on our findings, we invite policy makers to enhance the agenda on land allocation for urban agriculture by preserving and fortifying the existing social networks and relationships. Such an approach allows for enlarging the spectrum of benefits provided by farmers to their community and vice versa, as well as for strengthening farmers’ self-esteem and internal motivation for engagement in urban agriculture. Therefore, our paper supports moving beyond the narrow notion of legal tenure for urban agriculture and embracing its more inclusive understanding by acknowledging social relations and their importance for farmers’ own perception of their land tenure.

Suggested Citation

  • Suchá, Lenka & Dušková, Lenka, 2022. "Land access mechanisms of Soweto farmers: Moving beyond legal land tenure for urban agriculture," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:119:y:2022:i:c:s026483772200196x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2022.106169
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026483772200196X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.landusepol.2022.106169?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Maxwell, Daniel G., 1995. "Alternative food security strategy: A household analysis of urban agriculture in Kampala," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 23(10), pages 1669-1681, October.
    2. Steven Lawry & Cyrus Samii & Ruth Hall & Aaron Leopold & Donna Hornby & Farai Mtero, 2017. "The impact of land property rights interventions on investment and agricultural productivity in developing countries: a systematic review," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(1), pages 61-81, January.
    3. Erik Bryld, 2003. "Potentials, problems, and policy implications for urban agriculture in developing countries," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 20(1), pages 79-86, March.
    4. J. Allister McGregor & Andrew McKay & Jackeline Velazco, 2007. "Needs and resources in the investigation of well-being in developing countries: illustrative evidence from Bangladesh and Peru," Journal of Economic Methodology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(1), pages 107-131.
    5. Espen Sjaastad & Daniel W. Bromley, 2000. "The Prejudices of Property Rights: On Individualism, Specificity, and Security in Property Regimes," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 18(4), pages 365-389, December.
    6. Frimpong Boamah, Emmanuel & Sumberg, James & Raja, Samina, 2020. "Farming within a dual legal land system: An argument for emancipatory food systems planning in Accra, Ghana," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    7. Nigel Webb, 2011. "When is enough, enough? Advocacy, evidence and criticism in the field of urban agriculture in South Africa," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(2), pages 195-208.
    8. Chethika Gunasiri Wadumestrige Dona & Geetha Mohan & Kensuke Fukushi, 2021. "Promoting Urban Agriculture and Its Opportunities and Challenges—A Global Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-22, August.
    9. Ruel, Marie T. & Haddad, Lawrence & Garrett, James L., 1999. "Some Urban Facts of Life: Implications for Research and Policy," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 27(11), pages 1917-1938, November.
    10. Zezza, Alberto & Tasciotti, Luca, 2010. "Urban agriculture, poverty, and food security: Empirical evidence from a sample of developing countries," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 265-273, August.
    11. Peter Narh & Cosmas Kombat Lambini & Matthew Sabbi & Van Dien Pham & Trung Thanh Nguyen, 2016. "Land Sector Reforms in Ghana, Kenya and Vietnam: A Comparative Analysis of Their Effectiveness," Land, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-17, March.
    12. Suchá, Lenka & Schlossarek, Martin & Dušková, Lenka & Malan, Naudé & Šarapatka, Bořivoj, 2020. "Land tenure security and its implications for investments to urban agriculture in Soweto, South Africa," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    13. Mitsuo Ogura, 1996. "Urbanization And Apartheid In South Africa: Influx Controls And Their Abolition," The Developing Economies, Institute of Developing Economies, vol. 34(4), pages 402-423, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Leslie Gray & Laureen Elgert & Antoinette WinklerPrins, 2020. "Theorizing urban agriculture: north–south convergence," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 37(3), pages 869-883, September.
    2. Suchá, Lenka & Schlossarek, Martin & Dušková, Lenka & Malan, Naudé & Šarapatka, Bořivoj, 2020. "Land tenure security and its implications for investments to urban agriculture in Soweto, South Africa," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    3. Poulsen, Melissa N. & McNab, Philip R. & Clayton, Megan L. & Neff, Roni A., 2015. "A systematic review of urban agriculture and food security impacts in low-income countries," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 131-146.
    4. Hayford Mensah Ayerakwa & Fred Mawunyo Dzanku & Daniel Bruce Sarpong, 2020. "The geography of agriculture participation and food security in a small and a medium-sized city in Ghana," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 8(1), pages 1-21, December.
    5. Luiza Vigne Bennedetti & Paulo Antônio de Almeida Sinisgalli & Maurício Lamano Ferreira & Fabiano Lemes de Oliveira, 2023. "Challenges to Promote Sustainability in Urban Agriculture Models: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-14, January.
    6. Marc F. Bellemare & Vaneesha Dusoruth, 2021. "Who Participates in Urban Agriculture? An Empirical Analysis†," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(1), pages 430-442, March.
    7. Oh, Joo-seok & Kim, Sei-yong, 2017. "Enhancing urban agriculture through participants’ satisfaction: The case of Seoul, Korea," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 123-133.
    8. Sarvenaz Pakravan & Shahin Keynoush & Ehsan Daneshyar, 2022. "Proposing a Pedagogical Framework for Integrating Urban Agriculture as a Tool to Achieve Social Sustainability within the Interior Design Studio," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-32, June.
    9. Dan Li & Wenjing Zhong & Yitao Chen, 2022. "The Role of Farmland Titling in Urban Agricultural Resilience: Evidence from Metropolitan Guangzhou, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-20, November.
    10. Goździewicz-Biechońska, Justyna & Brzezińska-Rawa, Anna, 2022. "Protecting ecosystem services of urban agriculture against land-use change using market-based instruments. A Polish perspective," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    11. Jessica Ann Diehl & Kate Oviatt & Amanda Jennifer Chandra & Harpreet Kaur, 2019. "Household Food Consumption Patterns and Food Security among Low-Income Migrant Urban Farmers in Delhi, Jakarta, and Quito," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-18, March.
    12. Shahin Keynoush & Ehsan Daneshyar, 2022. "Defining a Pedagogical Framework for Integrating Buildings and Landscapes in Conjunction with Social Sustainability Discourse in the Architecture Graduate Design Studio," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-27, April.
    13. Mohammad Rondhi & Pravitasari Anjar Pratiwi & Vivi Trisna Handini & Aryo Fajar Sunartomo & Subhan Arif Budiman, 2018. "Agricultural Land Conversion, Land Economic Value, and Sustainable Agriculture: A Case Study in East Java, Indonesia," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-19, November.
    14. Md. Latiful Haque & Peter Oosterveer & Raffaele Vignola, 2024. "Food safety concerns and purchase choices among poor households in the urbanising global south: the case of Dhaka, Bangladesh," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 16(4), pages 933-950, August.
    15. Warren, Emily & Hawkesworth, Sophie & Knai, Cécile, 2015. "Investigating the association between urban agriculture and food security, dietary diversity, and nutritional status: A systematic literature review," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 54-66.
    16. Asaaga, Festus A. & Hirons, Mark A. & Malhi, Yadvinder, 2020. "Questioning the link between tenure security and sustainable land management in cocoa landscapes in Ghana," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    17. Neda Tiraieyari & Roya Karami & Robert M. Ricard & Mohammad Badsar, 2019. "Influences on the Implementation of Community Urban Agriculture: Insights from Agricultural Professionals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-18, March.
    18. Omondi, S.O., 2018. "Economic analysis of small-scale poultry production in Kenyan medium-sized cities of Kisumu and Thika," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277360, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    19. Davies, Julia & Hannah, Corrie & Guido, Zack & Zimmer, Andrew & McCann, Laura & Battersby, Jane & Evans, Tom, 2021. "Barriers to urban agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    20. Feyertag, Joseph & Childress, Malcolm & Langdown, Ian & Locke, Anna & Nizalov, Denys, 2021. "How does gender affect the perceived security of land and property rights? Evidence from 33 countries," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:119:y:2022:i:c:s026483772200196x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Joice Jiang (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/land-use-policy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.